AIRWAY ASSESSMENT

Course overview

A THOROUGH, BUT BRIEF, AIRWAY ASSESSMENT IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE PROPER MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS REQUIRING ADVANCED AIRWAY MANAGEMENT. INDICATIONS FOR THE USE OF AIRWAY MANAGEMENT ARE FAILURE TO OXYGENATE, FAILURE TO VENTILATE, OR FAILURE TO MAINTAIN A PATENT AIRWAY. THE MODALITY OF AIRWAY MANAGEMENT PRIMARILY DEPENDS ON THE CAUSE AND SEVERITY OF THE PATIENT CONDITION BUT IS ALSO SUBJECT TO FACTORS SUCH AS ENVIRONMENT AND CLINICIAN'S SKILL LEVEL. THIS ACTIVITY DESCRIBES THE METHODS USED TO ASSESS THE AIRWAYS AND HIGHLIGHTS THE ROLE OF THE INTERPROFESSIONAL TEAM IN THE MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH COMPROMISED BREATHING.